First Meet in a long time

Susan, I have been in the water for about 15 months. HOWEVER, it hasn't been consitant because my kids coach had 3 morning work outs for 3 months then canceled for 3 months then had for 3 months..you see the pattern. After being out from the end of July, I forked over the money and joined the Y at the end of October. I just do my own thing..usually about 2700 yards 4-5 times a week. I only started doing 1 set at each practice a couple of weeks ago. The "set" is usually 1000 yards..20 50's free on a minute etc. I started swimming 4 weeks after my last child was born. I lost the 26lbs of pregnancy weight plus another 28. I still want to lose another 50 pounds. I will by no means be average then but it is my goal to go to a regular store and buy some size 14 pants. Weight aside, I am in much better shape than I've been in in 15 years. My doctor asked what I was doing and said keep it up. I am more aware of what I am eating but am not on a diet. I am trying to make this a lifetime commitment and can not give up all great food forever. My body and my mind are so much better. I actually have a shape again!! Keep up the good work. It takes some time but just remember that 6 months from now you will see a big improvement. I have hit a weight plateau for the last month but I know my muscle mass has increased and the butt of my pants is larger!! My kids swim coach is the one that encouraged me to swim and to go to this meet. He will also be there this weekend as he is trying to qualify for worlds in August. If I get the swimming bug this weekend, I think I'll try some of the workouts posted here. I understand how you feel because I get a little frustrated sometimes because I know what a 5:00 500 feels like. I just keep telling myself that 6 months later I will be better and smaller than I am now. I'll let you know how the meet goes.

Good luck at your meets! I admire your courage. I have a couple of opportunities coming up, including this weekend, and your posts have given me inspiration. Pooch - How long has it been since you went back to swimming? I'm in the same boat as far as weight, etc. I started back to swimming in Mid October and it is really starting to show for me. I've added Weight Watchers to my weight loss regime and the pounds are really starting to come off - 6 lbs since Jan. 27. Go get 'em! :)

My first meet in over 25 years was last November. Here are a few random thoughts. I read all the "First meet" threads I could find on this site. I saw a couple of good lists of things to bring, including spare contact lenses. "Good idea," I thought, and packed an old pair. I practiced starts off the blocks at my pool before the meet and found a head position that kept my goggles on and dry. The morning of the meet while practicing starts I inexplicably chose that opportunity to start messing with my start technique, promptly losing my goggles and a contact. I was fine in the actual events when I went back to what I knew worked. Dive in every chance you get at your normal practice and figure out what works for you. If you don't wear contacts, practice swimming out a length after losing your goggles so that if it does happen you'll know how to deal with it. I found that it can get a little confusing tracking when you are supposed to be swimming and in what lane. My more experienced teammates helped me with this. Highlighting your name and position on the sheets helps. Looking at the results, I realize I should have paid closer attention to who was swimming beside me in the heats. I was really worried about how hard to take out the 200 ***, not having any experience at that distance. A guy I narrowly beat in the 100 who was in the lane next to me beat me in the 200, again right beside me. Had I paid attention to the heat sheets and results, I could have used him to help me pace the first 100 of the 200, but I didn't realize it was the same guy until after the race was over. I let him go in the first 100 when I should have tried to hang with him. I was a little nervous, but it wasn't debilitating or anything, just good nervousness. A lot of my nervousness dissipated when the meet started and I realized that people were just as supportive, or even more so, of the slower swimmers as of the "stars." There was none of the in your face competiveness I remembered from my high school meets, just a bunch of folks out having fun while competing -- some at a very high level. I went with the goal of having some fun, and I did. "Did you win, dad?" my kids asked when I got home. No, I didn't, but it was a lot of fun and I'm looking forward to my next meet next month.

My first meet in over 20 years was 11/5/05. I swam from July 05 to October 05. Went to Florida and had Hurricane Wilma disrupt my swim workout. Got back to VA and had BOTH Bally Pools closed for weeks due to heater and pumps (have since joined the Y). I was very nervous and said what the H*LL I'll go to the meet anyway. I had a blast. Just like when I was a kid. I was so excited I decided to late entry the 200 SCM ***. 10 minutes before the race I started to get second thoughts, but swam it and am glad I did. I now am going to go to my 2nd Masters meet this Sunday. Again things have happened. I had a nasty cold and Sinus infection for a week along with this Wednesday I hurt my GOOD shoulder. Tried to swim tonight and had alot of pain, but I remember what a fun time I had and will show up to have some fun. Pooch1 Go out and have fun, remember not to go out too fast, your blood will probably be pumping. Have a Great Masters Meet!

Thank you to everyone that has provided words of encouragement and positive thoughts my way. I started getting psyched this morning when a new lifegaurd asked me if I had competed when I was younger. The best part of my day will be looking at the faces of my 4 kids when I am done. I hope I make them proud. Good luck to EVERYONE this weekend~!~ Kristen

Hey Pooch - Just want you to know your post truly inspired me. I'm going to my first meet tomorrow. I hope I have the same luck as A.K. - I went to the local high school this a.m. to practice some starts w/ goggles (this is my biggest hangup and worry) and was told under no circumstances could I dive off the starting block because I was not on "the swim team." I explained that I am on a swim team (ok so I am a team of 1), and that I had a swim meet tomorrow and I just wanted to do a start or two in a lane where no one else was swimming. The answer was no way, no how. Grrrrrr. I hate rules. So I asked for my money back and left. I'm sure that 17 year old life guard is still saying "Swim team/swim meet - yea right. What's a fat old lady like her doing trying to swim in a meet." My husband in true supportive fashion told me I'm better off not practicing starts and said "it will add to the intrigue."

Originally posted by MichiganHusker "I went to the local high school this a.m. to practice some starts w/ goggles (this is my biggest hangup and worry) and was told under no circumstances could I dive off the starting block because I was not on "the swim team." I explained that I am on a swim team (ok so I am a team of 1), and that I had a swim meet tomorrow and I just wanted to do a start or two in a lane where no one else was swimming. The answer was no way, no how. Grrrrrr. I hate rules. So I asked for my money back and left." I had the exact same experience happen, so.... when I went to another pool, I went up to the starting blocks the greatest distance from the guard and when I was ready, climbed up and did a start in about 2 seconds- too fast for the guard to say anything. I recently joined a masters team and they allow us to use the blocks if the coach is there. Good Luck and Have Fun !!

I had a great time! Everyone was extremely friendly and willing to answer any questions I had. I was able to practice a few starts during the 1st and 2nd warmups and that made me feel alot better. I must not tuck my chin enough when I dive in because today my forehead is sore. Go figure that one. There were all types of swimmers there - fast, slow, heavy, skinny, young, old, tall, short..... Some people had their families and friends to cheer them on, but most were there without someone. One woman's entire family (I think it was husband & 2 or 3 kids) stood at the end of the pool cheering her on while she swam the breaststroke. I don't know how she kept her concentration, let alone a straight face. It was so cute. When I got home I was telling my husband that I was looking forward to the next meet and he was laughing at me - he said instead of chucking it all to go on tour with The Dead, next thing he knows I'll be going on the Masters Swim tour. :p Definitely a great experience. Thanks to Jason Colwell, Skip Thompson & Sally Guthrie who really went out of their way to make me feel comfortable and welcome.

Ok, it is the Monday after our meets. How did everyone do this weekend?

On the drive up to Richmond it was pouring rain, which turned to snow just outside of Richmond- it was nice- originally being from Florida snow is still fun. We went to a social the night before and met some other swimmers and had great food that was prepared by the hosts who were a very nice couple. Did a little carbo loading with beers near the hotel and called it a night at about midnight. Went to the meet even though my shoulder was in pain from something I did on 2/8, and had fun. Everybody was in good spirits and there were some fast swims there. They had refreshments complimentary on the deck (orange slices, bananas, water, bagels and pizza) Thought of climbing the block for my 50 *** with a slice of pizza for extra energy as it was separated by 3 heats from the 100 back I just swam. The roads were fine on the drive back. Looking forward to the next meet!